Which Commuter Scooter ?

[lifeisforlivi...]

[andyscooter]

[Spy]

[lifeisforlivi...]

£300 for 5mph

keep it standard except the screen and you will be laughing [/quote]

£97 quid for 5mph more and a better acceleration isn't bad, 5mph is the difference between overtaking and not overtaking things on dual carriage ways. It also lets the PCX down hill top out around 73 mph.

The exhaust is optional but if you are commuting year round it is expensive to have to keep replacing the stock Honda exhaust, you might as well keep it for when you sell it to retain value. The PCX stock is not good on dual carriage ways so if you are hitting higher speeds I would definately consider a Malossi multivar.

[lifeisforlivi...]

I am going next Sunday, I want to try and test ride a KTM 390 duke to see if I could live with it. The things I want to test like how easy is it to get the front up and can it be easily put it up on the front wheel are probably out of question as I think they follow you instead of letting you just go out on them.

[andyscooter]

[LeeW]

[lifeisforlivi...]

I haven't done anything to it as yet as I've only just bought it.

I will bare the above in mind but early thoughts are great seems plenty quick enough for my needs as it stands.

I must say I have considered a taller screen but bit worried it will ruin the styling that the stock screen gives.[/quote]

Screen might be a good option but yeah it might ruin looks.

[lifeisforlivi...]

[quote="andyscooter"][quote="lifeisforliving"]£300 for 5mph


One of the best 125's around, I had a Sym Simply 2 and it was terrible, slow, 70mpg, small fuel tank. I sold it after 4 months and got a bike but missed storage and weather protection, running costs so took a punt on the PCX over a 200cc Gilera runner. It has been out standing as a commuter. Headlights are better than most bikes.e]

[andyscooter]

https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb129/andyscooters/pcxpics001_zps392747e7.jpg

screen didnt look that bad imo
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[myvision]

The lump on the PCX seat is uncomfortable it's completely in the wrong position.
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VFR800FI, YZF600R Thundercat and FZS 1000

[lifeisforlivi...]

[Spy]

Thanks for all the comments.

At the moment I am leaning towards the PCX.

Probably won't do any upgrades until I see how it feels, apart from a larger screen for the winter. The photo Andy posted doesn't make it look too bad. @andyscooter do you know which screen that is ?

Having had a quick look at used PCX bikes on Autotrader and eBay, relatively new ones (couple of years old) with low mileage seem to be around £2k.

That does not feel like it is a big enough difference to the new price (maybe even smaller when you factor any potential dealer discount) to justify a used purchase with unknown treatment etc.

The interest free deal also looks attractive, paying £100 a month Vs tying up £2k on a used bike is attractive.

Will head over to the NEC next week and sit on a few I am considering to get a feel for them. The Piaggio Medley looks interesting as a contender against the SH or PCX.

[lifeisforlivi...]

I paid 1800 quid 7k miles and just over a year old on a 14 plate for mine. I have a phone / sat nav holder on the bars. I average 6k miles a year so aim to keep it until I have clocked up about 25k miles and then sell it on. I think it is worth getting the newer model because of the new styling, increased tank size and full LED headlights.

0% finance is always a good choice if you intend to keep it for 3-4 years.

[MarkJF]

I too had a PCX as a 2nd bike for my commute, couldn't fault it, for the price you can pick up low mileage ones, they are great. I preferred it to my previous Majesty 250 which was lardy in comparison.

But, it was a plastic "thing" and I didn't care for it or about it. If I was to got the auto route again (unlikely) I'd buy the Vespa, care for it and keep it.

[andyscooter]

screen was a givi screen I think

you can get one with hand guards on it as well but that looked shite imo
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[barrkel]

In your position I'd get a SH125. I know andyscooter doesn't rate the flat foostep area, but it's the best place to put a bunch of shopping. Topbox is at the end of a lever bounced around by the rear suspension - hit a bump and anything in there gets a good rattling. I keep my chain, waterproofs, luggage straps etc. underneath my seat, there's not a huge amount of space left over (on a SH300 with a bigger engine and so less space, mind). That leaves the baggage hook. You can get air off a speed bump and not break an egg.

I don't like the styling of the PCX125 - I think they're trying to look like something they're not. And I prefer the larger 16 inch wheels on an SH, but 14 inches is fine. There was a world of difference between the 14 inch wheels I had on my PS125 vs the 10 inch ones on my Vity. Completely different handling - so much more stability at speed. You'll want that on dual carriageways.

Small wheels are why I'd never consider a Vespa for anything practical.

I think tall scooter screens are worthless in British weather. If it rains, it's horrific trying to see through them, particularly at city speeds where there isn't enough wind blast to clear them. Wind blast is greatly reduced at higher speeds though. I did a mini-tour of Scotland on a scooter with a screen I bought in Carlisle, in misty rain it was lethal. I had to stay in the hotel.

If I never had to do any shopping or didn't carry around a chain, a PCX would just about do. Don't forget that under-seat gets warm too, another bad thing for shopping.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Spy]

Thanks Andy for the heads up on the screen.

Barrkel, that is a great post and has a lot of useful things to consider that I never thought of.

For me, the downside of the SH (like most flat footstep scoots) is that there is no room to spread your legs if you start getting uncomfortable.

I am 5' 11" and they feel a little bit cramped. Saying that, the Vespa GTS seemed to have a little more room.

I don't need to do any shopping really, just carry my work bag. I am guessing that when riding, the work bag and locks can go under the seat and when I get to my destination, I will take out the bag and lock and put my helmet in.

I visited Motorcycle Live yesterday and as I thought, it has confused me once again.

I looked at the PCX and it is a nice bike but I do prefer the slightly larger bikes, but not quite maxi size (or what I think is maxi size).

The bikes that I liked the look and feel of, having sat on them, were:
1) Honda Forza
2) Peugeot Satelis 2
3) Yamaha X Max
4) Kawasaki J125

Unfortunately, these are priced more than I would like to spend. My ideal budget is a max of £3k (if I can finance it) or £2k cash.

The PCX fits nicely into this but it is not my first choice at the moment.

The Forza is above my budget and even on the used market, they are still not close.

With the Yamaha XMax, I don't have a dealer near enough to me and as people suggest, dealer support is useful, so I may have to rule that out.

Like the Forza, the Kawasaki J125 is too new to be within my budget.

This leaves the Satelis 2. There are first gen used Satelis in my budget but it is quite old design/tech so would prefer the gen 2 but there don't seem to be any used examples knocking around near me even though it came out in 2012/13.

Given the above, are there any others I may have missed that I should consider. Key things I would like is
- a dealer near me for support: I have Honda, Peugeot, Kymco, Zontes, Motorini, Hyosung and Neco near me. I can get to a Yamaha and Kawasaki dealer but they are not as near as I would like.
- a similar size
- full 15bhp engine with good acceleration off the lights
- fits a full size helmet beneath the seat
- has a 'glovebox' with 12v socket for charging phone or plugging in a satnav.
- decent legroom
- Combined braking or ABS

Also, on a side note, despite my comment on the SH above, I was quite taken by the Peugeot Django as an alternative to the Vespa but looking at the specs, they don't seem that powerful (and have small wheels) - anyone owned one of these ?

[andyscooter]

[andyscooter]

[Spy]

[andyscooter]

pretty sure its the kymco downtown (yes I know its a stupid name)

they also do a 300cc version and its the same but a different colour
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Spy]